Brad Thorn at the top of his game

BY MARC HINTON IN CARDIFF

Whatever Brad Thorn's putting in his Powerade, we should all get some.

The big All Black lock, 34 years young and turning back the clock with every test he plays this year, put in a huge performance as the All Blacks hung on to continue their 56-year dominance over Wales at the Millennium Stadium today.

And afterwards he received a glowing tribute from coach Graham Henry and skipper Richie McCaw after yet another highlight in what's shaping as the banner year of his test career.

"He's immense isn't he," said Henry of another through-the-roof workrate effort from his veteran second-rower. "He's had two huge test matches on this tour. He's an inspiration to the guys playing the game around him."

McCaw was nodding his head furiously as Henry spoke, and then put in his five cents worth on a player who has clearly found a formula that works for him in the unforgiving world of test rugby.

"They're probably the two best games I've seen him play in all his years playing rugby," said McCaw of the last two performances from the one-time NRL star. "I can't really put it into words but he's definitely an inspiration to the boys.

"He's a real professional and he's got a real hard edge to him. He doesn't like to give anyone anything and he played like that tonight."

It's hard to quantify Thorn's contribution to the All Blacks, other than to say it's about as big as his ticker.

He shirks nothing in the engine-room and much of what he does goes unnoticed. But such is his form at the moment that he's cropping up all over the park as play opens up, featuring in the buildup to Andrew Hore's match-clinching try and making one bullocking run down the middle that had to be seen to be believed -- Welsh players draped all over him but unable to halt his progress.

Thorn says at his age he's keeping it "year by year" but McCaw admitted he wouldn't be surprised to see the big fella "sniffing around" for at least two more through to a certain date with destiny.

"If he keeps performing like that I don't see why not," shrugged the skip.

Centre Conrad Smith was probably the other standout All Black in a mixed performance that saw the Welsh put their great rivals under plenty of pressure.

Smith was the most likely runner in a backline that only really got going in the second half, and should have been awarded the All Blacks' second try when he appeared to ground as he rolled over in Shane Williams' tackle midway through the second half. He and Ma'a Nonu also combined effectively to shut down the dangerous Welsh pairing of Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin.

"Conrad keeps continuing to play to a very, very high standard and Ma'a's not far behind him" said new backs coach Steve Hansen. "Conrad would be close to the best centre in the world the way he's playing at the moment."

Henry also felt 20-year-old Hawke's Bay wing Zac Guildford came through his test debut with flying colours.

"He should be very pleased with his first test," said Henry. "He was composed out there, enjoyed the occasion, made good decisions when he had the ball and was good under the high ball and saved us at the finish with that intercept.

"He had a huge game for a young fella."

Henry was talking about Guildford's effort, late in the game, to get back and make a crucial tackle on Welsh lock Alun-Wyn Jones after he intercepted a Jimmy Cowan pass and dashed 60 metres towards the All Black goal-line.

"I was just bloody happy it wasn't a winger," said McCaw of a key moment in the match. "The boys put the hammer down to get back - and that shows how much it meant to the guys, to get back, shut that down and I guess grind it out."

 Thanks to the young wing's efforts the All Blacks were able to hold out a furious challenge from the home side in the closing minutes and keep intact their perfect record against the Welsh since 1953's defeat in Cardiff.

Henry called it a "highly competitive" test between two good sides who both wanted to win. Hansen also paid tribute to the efforts of a Welsh side both he and Henry have pretty close links to.

"They were good. You only have to see the pressure they put us under at times. Our guys know they had to dig deep to win the test - and they did that," said Hansen.

There were no major injuries out of the game and by all accounts Dan Carter came though another perfect night with the boot without any further bother to his calf.

New defensive coach Wayne Smith was also rapt that yet another northern hemisphere side had gone a test without crossing the All Black tryline.

"We defended pretty well tonight and that reflects your true character and attitude. We're certainly not wanting in that department."

Though it wasn't all sweetness and light, added Smith.

"From a coaching point of view we've got to improve our transition from defence into attack. We gad some good opportunities when we got turnovers and didn't really use them."

The All Blacks move on to Milan on Sunday (UK time) for a test against Italy at the San Siro that is likely to see some of the key workhorses handed some downtime as further fringe players in this squad get their chances.

- © Fairfax NZ News